Looking at the recent market scenario, we can say that there has been a distinct shift of paradigm in customer behavior. While they seek more and more informative content, marketers are busy finding the easiest to digest way of sharing information. Studies have shown that people can retain up to 95% of the information when they watch a video while retaining only 10% upon reading the same content in text format. 

Not just customer engagement, videos also help a great deal in training employees. Statistics suggest that an average employee forgets 65% of the material covered during training sessions within seven days. On the other hand, if you include video content in your training material, their chances of grasping the same information increases.

Source: animatedvideo

Thus, the bottom line is, companies and organizations are compelled to produce attractive and engaging videos and publish them on their websites. 

Now, the question is how to make character animation videos for your videos that effectively convey your message to your audience. 

This article will discuss the basic process of creating an animated video in a step-by-step manner. But before we start discussing the process of creating the videos, let's get an idea about what a character animation video is and how you can utilize it.

Character Animation

Character animation is a part of animated video production that helps you to bring your characters to life. The characters interact like film or stage actors, while an animator is responsible for the same.

These characters can be used to express and convey various messages and information to the audience. They are exciting and entertaining and require a lot fewer resources to be created than hiring a production team with real actors. 

Have a look at this character animation video.

A Step-by-Step Guide to making Character Animation Videos

Wondering how to make character animation or how to create a character for animation? 

Well, creating the perfect character animation video can sound like a difficult task. Whether you do-it-yourself or have an in-house team, making even a simple animated video can still be a daunting task in the absence of a well-defined process. This can be extra challenging if you are a Newbie.

But don’t worry. We have organized an easy-to-follow guide to help you hop over the obstacles and create character animation videos like a professional!

So let's get started!

Choose a user-friendly yet Powerful Software Animation Program 

Thanks to the immense development of technology, creating animated characters are not as difficult as it used to be. By using various animation software, you can make professional-looking animated videos in no time

However, you must make sure to choose the right software for the purpose. Some of the essential qualities to look for in a character animation software is as follows:

User-friendliness: as a beginner, it is always a better idea to avoid complicated or challenging to operate software for video creation. It steepens the learning curve, and the video production gets delayed owing to the complexity. Thus ensuring ease of use is mandatory.

Cost-effectiveness: understandably, different sized businesses are willing to pay or can afford to pay a different amount of money for an animated video maker subscription. Thus, it is better to define a budget and find a software to match the same.

The versatility of features: there are endless apps, tools, and software that promise to be the best. But the terminology itself is subjective. Check for the features and functionalities you need in a video maker to ensure it can cater to all your needs. 

Most of the software in the market today are automated. Thus, you don't have to put the time or the effort to learn the software or build the animation from scratch. All you have to do is find the best software whose features fit your requirement, and you are halfway there in the video production process already.

Check out: List of top 2d Animation Software that enhance your video quality to know about the best software to use for your 2D character animation video.

Set out a clear Goal for your Character Animation Video

Animated videos are multifold and diverse. They can be used to serve several purposes, including but not limited to, creating: explainer videos, demo videos, training videos, how-to videos, promotional videos, etc. Besides, there are different variations of animations as well.

To save confusion later, you should define the goal beforehand. It can be creating an advertisement or informative content, educational videos, or training videos: setting the goal before the video creation process makes it easy to choose the characters and set the video's tone.

Invest Time to make a Compelling Script

Once you have finalized your objective, you can start working on the script. It is a crucial part of the entire process and is not limited to putting words together. A script would define the storyline, how your characters behave, what message they send, and how it reflects your brand. To make the script engaging, you can incorporate the following tips:

Pique their intrigue: don't start your video on a dull note; try to add an element of curiosity or surprise. Offering the audience with something to think about grabs their attention and keeps them engaged,

Introduce yourself: at some point in your video, introduce your brand, services, or product. Subtly cover topics such as who are you, why should the audience associate with you, what sets you apart, etc.

End with a punch: it can be adding a CTA, some valuable resources, a note of appreciation, or an informative lesson. It's like giving your audience something to remember you by, but make sure it ties back to your original goal.

Choose your Characters for the Video 

There is a psychological phenomenon called “the paradox of choice”: a person suffers indecision upon being given too many options. It is not unnatural during animation to suffer such an instance, especially when you have too many specifications to take care of. 

Yes, creating a character from scratch is time-taking and needs a lot of patience, as you have to take care of so many micro details. But you can void that scenario by choosing a character from a set of pre-designed animated characters for videos by choosing a video software that lets you do that.

Pro tip: while choosing a character, keep the video's objective in your mind to make sure it matches the brand's tone and vibe.

Set a Tone for the Video animation

We have already talked about setting a tone for your brand videos; let's discuss why it is essential:

When you talk to someone, you create an impression with your unique approach, personality, and the way you speak. People associated with you remember you through these small details. 

Your video also creates an impression for your brand and company that people associate with you. It is paramount to follow a particular tone to make sure you are not confusing your audiences and prospects. You can be goofy, humorous, sincere, etc. but make sure you follow a single tone.

Add Voiceover and Background Music

Imagine if the world was without any sound; how dull would it be? How will you even communicate? 

While the animation is a great way to send a message without using words, you must include a voiceover to make sure no one misses out on anything. Since videos are also called audio-visuals, it only makes sense to add a voice to bring your characters to life. 

You can add a voiceover, or upbeat background music, or both. Your video-making platform may also contain a free recording tool and a library of music to choose from. 

Finally, you have to sync the audio with the video to yield the final result.

And you are done

By adding the voiceover, or BGM, you have reached the final stage of creating your animated video in just six simple steps. Once you are done with the production, you can publish the video on your website and measure its fruitfulness in due time. 

If this process is too complex for you, you can contact an animated video production company, who will take over the entire process and deliver you the desired results. 

For any assistance or query regarding animated video production, contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Creating a character animation involves several steps. First, you'll need a character design, which can be drawn or created digitally. Next, use animation software like Adobe Animate or Toon Boom to rig the character, setting up its joints and movements. Then, create keyframes to define the character's major poses and movements. Finally, add in-between frames to smooth out the animation. This process requires patience, practice, and a good understanding of movement principles.

There are several free animation character video makers available. Some popular ones include Powtoon, Animaker, and Synfig Studio. While they offer free versions, they may have limitations on features and export options. However, they are great starting points for beginners to get a feel for character animation.

To create your own animated video, you'll need animation software like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, or even free options like Powtoon or Animaker. Start by sketching out your storyboard to plan the sequence of scenes. Then, create the characters and backgrounds, and animate them according to your storyboard. Add sound effects, music, and any necessary voiceovers. Finally, render the video and export it in a suitable format for sharing.

Making characters move in animation involves a process called rigging. This is where you create a skeleton or structure for your character with joints and bones. In 2D animation, you'll use a rigging tool in software like Adobe Animate or Toon Boom. Once the rig is set up, you'll pose the character in different keyframes to create movement. The software will generate the in-between frames, resulting in a smooth animation. This process requires a good understanding of anatomy and movement principles.